Setting the Stage: Mora Knows What to Expect From What He Sees

As Colorado State heads out on the road for the first time in 2026, the Rams head to a place which hasn't been welcoming to outsiders.

Since 2021, UTSA is 28-4 at home in the Alamodome, creating a strong home field advantage. The goal for Jim Mora's crew is to try to take that away, the sooner the better.

"Run the ball and stop the run are the things that I've always felt were the most important when we go on the road. You know, if you're running the ball effectively on offense, you're keeping their offense off the field and you're keeping their fans from getting too involved," Mora said on Wednesday. "And when you're stopping the run on defense and you're forcing them to turn some third-and-longer, then you can have a little fun on third down and go after people and hopefully make some plays that, again, keep the crowd out of it."

Heading into a third game, teams know what the opponent is good at and what aspects are trying to be solved, with Mora noting it's kind of a you-know-that-I-know-that-you-know game. Both teams are likely looking at the same things.

Colorado State ranks 134^th in the country in rush defense, allowing 227 yards per game. A line below the Rams are the Roadrunners, allowing 232.3 yards per outing.

"I wouldn't even throw the ball. I'd just run it every play," Mora said. "I mean, we're fourth to last in the NCAA in rush defense. Why would you ever throw against us? You know, just run it every play. And that would be my mindset if I were UTSA. So we've got to prove early in the game that we're up to the challenge."

CSU is 52^nd nationally running the ball at 177.3 yards; UTSA is 84^th, 154.7.

The Next Step

Jaseim Mitchell was being completely honest on the subject. Yes, he felt the defense would be strong tacklers. The linebacker also knows the Rams haven't shown that, particularly in the past two weeks.

"We believe we are a good tackling team. Now we have to go prove it," he said. "We have to do our assignments, be in the right alignment and finish plays. It's frustrating. We know we are better than we have been. (Defensive coordinator Tyson Summers) is honest with us. He's tough on us. Practices have been hard. We need to do a better job and go out and play to the level we can play."

Mora agrees: The defense has to prove it. They work on it weekly, but game day is when it counts.

What has transpired the past two weeks is too many explosive plays yielded to offenses instead of making teams work hard for points. When drives get extended, the Rams have proven they can make momentum plays with the creation of 10 turnovers.

The simple answer is to get ball carriers to the ground. Mora knows it goes deeper.

"It's making sure that we are presenting to the players in a way that is very specific so that they have a tremendous grasp of it. Because when players are certain, they'll play fast," he said. "And when they play fast, they have the ability to make plays. If you're asking them to think too much, it kills some of the instinctual abilities that they have to go make a play. So they play a step slower. So the first thing is to create a scheme that our players can really understand that's very specific.

"Then it's taking that and putting it in a format and practice where we're emphasizing the things that we need to emphasize that week. You know, sometimes it's schematic, but it's also the fundamental parts of it."

Day by Day

Mora said quarterback Hauss Hejny was doing everything possible to be ready to play on Saturday. That's likely the day a decision will be made.

That type of grit is what he's trying to build across the roster.

"I think we're working towards that. I think we have a lot of guys that way," he said. "I think we have a lot of guys that are moving that way."

Then comes the tough part: Making sure a player is being honest to the coaches and training staff so as not to put themselves in a position where the issues lingers or worsens.

Relationships come into play at that point.

"I think it's so important that we as coaches know who our players are and what their body language is and what their facial expressions are because we're the guys around them all the time. Our doctors are never around them, ever, ever, ever around them," Mora said. "So we have to be dialed in to them and know if they're trying to fool us or something's wrong or if they're trying to get away with something or if something's bothering them from a mental health standpoint.

"And so I'm proud of this staff for having that understanding. And our training staff as well. They're really good. I mean, Casey (Carter, the head athletic trainer) does an amazing job of just communicating to me what he sees and what he feels out of the players."

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results